Will I Go to Hell?
Hope for sinners
If you are not secure in where you’re going when you die, it is of no wonder that you’re here reading this. You are one of millions of people who have secretly asked themselves this question at least once in their lives: Will I go to hell? Is there any hope for me after the things I’ve done?
Those who do not believe in God and Christ are usually not the ones concerned with this question. Generally speaking, if you are not concerned about God, then you are not concerned about hell. There are a few types of people who we can address here:
1) The true believer in Christ
2) The one who doesn’t know if God is real (Agnostics)
3) The one who believes but does nothing about it
4) The sinner who wants to know Christ and has done bad things of any sort
5) The one who used to believe and has turned angry at God
There are conditions found in the bible regarding those who will end up being the ones in hell. We cannot ever know the identities of those people personally. The bible says that all sin and fall short in the glory of God, so we already know that there is no one without sin. The account in John 8:1-12 is an important one. Jesus is approached by men who believe the whore should be stoned. Jesus tells them that any of them who feel they are without sin shall cast the first stone at her. He forgave her and told her to sin no more. While we all know that this is impossible, we also know that Jesus was meant to give this instruction, so that the woman would know that she is accountable for her sins.
Repeatedly throughout the bible, it talks about the importance of faith. The sinner who hung on the cross was granted life with Christ for eternity right before he died. What did he do? What were his life of sins? We don’t know, but we do know that he turned to Christ in the very end, and he was forgiven. This was done by and through the blood of Christ.
The bible talks about those will not inherit God’s Kingdom:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
In the last verse shown, it discusses that this was the state of the sinners, but they had been washed clean in Jesus Christ. This happened through the blood that fell from Christ’s body, providing a way out for sinners who could not be without sin.
We see further indications in Revelation, as to who is to be warned:
Rev 21:8
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
Rev 22:15
But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
In the book of 2 Peter, much is to be said about those who walk in sin without concern for holiness. I advise reading the entire book, most importantly Chapter 2.
Do you feel that God is trying to tell you something? Is there a reason that you have asked yourself, “Will I go to hell?” Do you feel compelled to stop something that you’re doing, lest you face the judgement of God? Know my friend, that there are sins we are all forgiven for daily. The Apostle Paul called himself the chief of sinners. Yet, he was personally selected by God to carry out a Christian message. Even the apostles sinned. This is not to say that sin should be looked upon lightly. But, there is hope….
Hope For Sinners
If God is calling you to Him, know that while you have freewill on earth to make decisions which you may be punished for here on earth, you do not actually get to choose where you go when you die. Heaven and hell are not places we choose; they are places that people are purposed for. The unbelievers who delight in evil who do not turn their hearts over to Christ, and die in such a fashion, are those said to be found in hell. Those who sin, but have guilt, are able to be forgiven. Do you have a grudge against your brother which you haven’t addressed to the Father? Have you asked Him to soften your heart? If not, you must confess this sin in prayer, and remember the final commandment of Christ, which is to love. If you cannot forgive others yet you want Christ to forgive you, you must ask the Lord to lead your heart toward righteousness and forgiveness. Only He can bring you through such a thing. He also has the power to harden hearts, so asking that His Will be done is of utmost importance.
David sent Uriah out into battle, knowing he would be killed. He was guilty of having blood on his hands. In earnest suffering, guilt and with full remorse, we see in Psalm 51 that David was cut to the heart over his sin, desiring that God have mercy on him.
Psalm 51:9-14
Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
Why Does God Let People Sin?
While a righteous man such as David was “allowed” to sin, this doesn’t mean God “authored” such sin. Rather, the sin that David was born with, just like the sin we are all born with, caused him to sin selfishly, as we do not have the ability to be perfect and holy beings. David essentially was guilty of premeditated murder. If you educate yourself on the Book of Life, you will see that in the bible, clear direction is given that those found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life are those who will be found in heaven with Christ. (See my article on the Book of Life). The very sinners that we all are, are not deserving of heavenly Jerusalem, but we are offered grace through Jesus through the forgiveness of sins. So, while King David sinned, the Holy Spirit allowed him to earnestly seek Christ thereafter, even begging the Lord for mercy in prayer. From the smallest to the largest sins, we will be judged accordingly. However, if our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, then the course of action that the Holy Spirit takes is a desire to be forgiven, and be holy, which is planted in our hearts. This happens by Christ alone, through His Holy Spirit.
If you are concerned that you may go to hell, ask yourself, “Is my sin as great as King David’s sin?”
License to Sin?
This is not a license to sin. For your sins, you recognize your accountability, the closer you get to Christ. As you grow in Christ, you will be called effectually by God. All men receive the outer call (John 3:16) as a general instruction to “the world”: to follow Christ and keep His commandments. However, not all will receive the inner call through the Holy Spirit, wherein it operates in them in order to cleanse them of the sins of the flesh. The Inner call is Christ reaching in to man’s heart, creating a new desire in them. The Holy Spirit does the work, beginning with the realization that one wishes to turn their hearts and life over to Christ. This is the rebirth, or being “born again” through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit reaches in, creates new heart and mind, and assists in causing us to wish to stay on the path of true righteousness. We cannot do this alone.
Without this renewing process taking place, we have no ability to “choose Christ”, as so many think we can. Does it feel like a choice we made when we decided to choose Christ? Certainly. We can make the decision to move our mouths and say out loud, “I choose Christ”. But because we are born so sinful, we do not possess the holiness to make such a decision as to turn our hearts to Christ. Jesus called and chose His apostles, and said “You haven’t chosen me. I have chosen you” as he also chose Zacchaeus when he called him down from the tree, and instructed Zacchaeus that He would reside in his house. God approached Saul on the road to Damascus, and turned him into a new man in Christ. Saul did not ask to be chosen by Christ. He had no say in the matter when Christ knocked on the door of his heart. God even gave him a new name: the Apostle Paul.
The ones who will end up in hell will not be concerned with this article, as they will not be in search of Christ. There may even be false Christians who are aware that they are wrongly acting out of line and against the bible. Perhaps there are religious leaders purposely making money off of people, having no true and deep love for God. It will be harder for the rich man to enter heaven than for the camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Why did Jesus say to sell belongings and give to the poor, and that we would be rewarded ten fold? This is to show us the meaning of true worship and loyalty to Him. Riches of this world are not to be our focus. If they are, we must search our hearts and ask the Lord to remove such desires which are not in accordance with His Will.
What if I am Still Worried?
Will you go to hell? Will your brother? Will your friend? No one can answer that question unless they can fast forward and read your heart a split second before your death. Stay in faith, and receive the Holy Spirit when Christ knocks on the door of your heart. Do not be afraid, but ask in prayer in all submission, that the Lord forgives you for your sins. Your responsibility lies in obedience, but we cannot be obedient on our own. This is something we ask for humbly in prayer. Never presume to know the names of those who will face a fiery eternity, as the sinner on the cross who hung beside Christ was saved in the last moments of his life, purely by faithing in Christ before taking his last breath. Do not delight in sin, but see it for it’s evil, as it is governed by no other than Satan himself. Reject it at all costs, and remain faithful to Christ.
In all things, be grateful to God that these things have been revealed to you. Pray that the Lord keeps you in His hand and regenerates you and gives you wisdom and understanding through His Word. Pick up your bible and begin reading it from the beginning. The Lord has an entire letter for you which you may not have made time to read. Doesn’t He deserve more than that?